Report courtesy of the Herald Express

OLD BOYS FIRST TO LIFT PENFORD CUP


11:00 - 27 December 2007

Torquay Athletic 15pts, Torquay Old Grammarians 22

The Old Boys became the first winners of the Chris Penford Cup with this victory in the annual Boxing Day clash at the Recreation Ground.The popular fixture - it attracted one of the best gates of the season to the Recreation Ground - is now in its ninth season and is firmly established on the Christmas calendar.

This season the Torquay Grammar School Old Boys' Society donated a perpetual trophy to be played for, named after long-serving teacher Chris Penford - and old boy Luke Pattison became the first captain to hoist it.

The Old Boys were ahead inside 30 seconds thanks to a solo try up the right by Tom Eeles.

A second try followed on 12 minutes when the Old Boys spun the ball left from a penalty and Tom Brookman only had to step over the line from a couple of yards out to score.

The Tics finished the second half in the driving seat with tries from veteran prop Kevin King, who was driven over in a maul, and flanker Simon Dorey.

It stayed 10-10 up to half time and beyond until a brilliant running breakout from defence ended in Old Boys' centre James Murray crashing over near the posts for Jack Cooper to convert.

The Tics had the upper hand again after going behind, despite being a man short for 10 minutes while Dorey sat it out in the sin-bin, but were caught by a second breakout that led to full-back Jack Porter putting the Old Boys 22-10 up.

With Dorey back on for the last 10 minutes of the game, the Tics hammered away at the Old Boys looking for a way back. It didn't come until it was too late to make a difference.

A series of penalties and line-out drives in the Old Boys' 22 culminated in second-row Jon Woodhead getting close enough to the line to reach out and touch the ball down for a try.

The failed conversion attempt was the last kick of the match.